Let brotherly love continue. Ver. 1. _Let brotherly love continue_] It shall continue in heaven; pity therefore but it should on earth. No such heaven upon earth, next unto communion with God, as the communion of saints.... [ Continue Reading ]
Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Ver. 2. _Have entertained angels_] As Abraham and Lot, who pursued hospitality, as the apostle speaketh, Romans 12:13, and had such guests as they hoped not for. The Galatians received St Paul as an angel; s... [ Continue Reading ]
Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; _and_ them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body. Ver. 3. _Remember them that, &c._] Learn hence, saith one, that it is no new thing for the world to put bonds on them, who seek to bring them out of bondage. It is very prob... [ Continue Reading ]
Marriage _is_ honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. Ver. 4. _Marriage is honourable_] And yet say the Rhemists, upon1 Corinthians 7:9, marriage of priests is the worst sort of incontinency. Is not this to play the Antichrist _ And the bed undefil... [ Continue Reading ]
_Let your_ conversation _be_ without covetousness; _and be_ content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. Ver. 5. _Let your conversation_] Gr. προπος, your turnings and windings in the world for a livelihood. Do your business not out of a desire t... [ Continue Reading ]
So that we may boldly say, The Lord _is_ my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. Ver. 6. _So that we may boldly say_] Having such a promise to build and found our faith upon, we may well proceed to this holy gloriation against all opposition.... [ Continue Reading ]
Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of _their_ conversation. Ver. 7. _Them which have the rule_] Gr. ηγουμενοι, your captains, your guides (so ministers are called), your chieftains and champions, that bear th... [ Continue Reading ]
Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. Ver. 8. _Jesus Christ, the same_] This was the sum of their sermons, and is the substance of their and your faith; which therefore you must stick to, standing fast in the street which is called Straight,Acts 9:11, and not whirred about with... [ Continue Reading ]
Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For _it is_ a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein. Ver. 9. _Be not carried about_] πεοιφερομενοι. Error is a precipice, a vortex, or whirlpool, which... [ Continue Reading ]
We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle. Ver. 10. _We have an altar_] That is, a sacrifice, even Christ our passover, whose flesh is meat indeed, John 6:35; John 6:53, but to believers only, not to those that pertinaciously plead for ceremonies and services of... [ Continue Reading ]
For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp. Ver. 11. _Are burnt without the camp_] And so the priests had no part of the sin offering; to show that they have no part in Christ that adhere to the Levitical service... [ Continue Reading ]
Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. Ver. 12. _Without the gate_] See how punctually the Old Testament is fulfilled in the New. Hardly could those before Christ divine what this meant, till he had suffered it, and the apostle had ope... [ Continue Reading ]
Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. Ver. 13. _Bearing his reproach_] The reproach of saints is the reproach of Christ, and their sufferings his, Colossians 1:24; Nehemiah 4:3,5. God is more provoked than Nehemiah. He that saith, "Vengeance is mine, I will repa... [ Continue Reading ]
For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. Ver. 14. _For here we have none_] Improve this argument for the working our hearts off from the things of this world; the beauty of all which is but as a fair picture drawn upon the ice, that melts away with it. _ But we seek one to com... [ Continue Reading ]
By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of _our_ lips giving thanks to his name. Ver. 15. _The fruit of our lips_] Covering God's altar with the calves of our lips, Hosea 14:2. This shall please, the Lord better than an ox or bullock, that hath h... [ Continue Reading ]
But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. Ver. 16. _Forget not_] We very easily forget what we care not to remember. The richer, the harder usually. _ For with such sacrifices_] How improvident are we that will not offer a sacrifice of alms when Go... [ Continue Reading ]
Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that _is_ unprofitable for you. Ver. 17. _That have the rule over you_] Gr. That are your leaders or captains. But now,... [ Continue Reading ]
Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly. Ver. 18. _Willing to live honestly_] _Tantum velis, et Deus tibi praeoccurret._ David could wish well to the keeping of God's commandments,Psalms 119:4,5, and affect that which yet he could not effect.... [ Continue Reading ]
But I beseech _you_ the rather to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner. Ver. 19. _That I may be restored_] Prayer reigns over all impediments. See this excellently set forth by Mr Harris in his Peter's Enlargemeat.... [ Continue Reading ]
Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, Ver. 20. _Now the God of peace_] He that would reap prayers must sow them. What could the Hebrews do less than pray for him that prayed so heartily... [ Continue Reading ]
Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom _be_ glory for ever and ever. Amen. Ver. 21. _In every good work, &c._] Works materially good may never prove so formally and eventually; as when they are but ex... [ Continue Reading ]
And I beseech you, brethren, suffer the word of exhortation: for I have written a letter unto you in few words. Ver. 22. _Suffer the word_] Sharp though it be, and to the flesh tiresome, yet suffer it. Better it is that the vine should bleed than die. But many are like the nettle, touch it never so... [ Continue Reading ]
Know ye that _our_ brother Timothy is set at liberty; with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you. Ver. 23. _Know ye that our brother_] Good news should be spread abroad, and are a fit matter for Christian epistles, as one well observeth from these words.... [ Continue Reading ]
Salute all them that have the rule over you, and all the saints. They of Italy salute you. Ver. 24. _Salute all them_] This Epistle then was first read to the people, who are required to deliver the apostle's comments to their ministers. The Papists debar the people, not of the Scriptures only, but... [ Continue Reading ]
Grace _be_ with you all. Amen. Written to the Hebrews from Italy, by Timothy. >> Ver. 25. _Grace be with you_] _See Trapp on "_ Phm 1:25 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]